Page 54 of Thinking It Over

Remaining quiet a moment, Ian frowned before finally saying, “Do you think you’ll split if you can’t work there next school year?”

“Of course not,” I answered immediately.

“And is Austin the sort of guy who would compromise his position just because he likes your tongue in his—”

“Seriously, Ian.”

His response was to laugh. “But is he?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Then, while I love you, you really should be having this conversation with him, right?”

I tutted at him. “I hate it when you’re right. Asshole.” But he was 100 percent in this instance. I needed to do this officially, though, at school. It wasn’t a conversation I should have when doing those exact things Ian suggested I did. Which I totally did, and enjoyed every moment of doing so.

“And anything else going on?” he asked. I eased back on the couch, thankful he’d changed the subject.

“Not really. Austin’s making plans for us to spend a week catching up with his family.” A nervous excitement had bubbled to the surface when he’d mentioned it to me a couple of nights ago. I’d immediately agreed, wanting to meet his family, so it was a no-brainer. But with this being the first time I’d be doing such a thing, butterflies played havoc in my stomach.

“That’s great. You’ll fly, right?”

“Yeah. It’s too far to drive for only a weeklong trip.”

“Has Austin heard anything from Frankie?”

I sighed. “Nope. Other than the week he spent withhis dad, he then up and went on another adventure apparently, but Austin isn’t sure where. Honestly, I think his whole family is panicking while trying to shrug it off as it being not a big deal.”

Ian nodded, pursing his lips a little. “I couldn’t quite get a read on him when I met him.” I agreed completely. Frankie seemed great, in as much as he was friendly and chatty and witty, but then he’d flip a little, almost shutting down.

“It’s difficult. The guy’s a grown-ass man, you know. Hell, he has five years on me. I know we’re all wired differently, but it doesn’t mean it’s any easier on his family.” Whenever Austin came off the phone with his dad or one of his sisters, it took some time to get him out of his funk, to remind him to be positive. The whole time I rallied, I hoped it would all work out.

“Anyhow,” I continued, aware that it was way past my bedtime, but Ian had yet to tell me about his date, “how’d it go?”

The groan, followed by him angling his head back dramatically, caused me to laugh.

“That good, huh?”

“Remind me again why I thought this dating site would be a good thing?”

“Because it’s hard to meet a decent guy when you work your crazy hours and this service vets people.”

He scoffed at that. “They don’t vet personalities for being dickheads, apparently.”

“What happened?” I asked sympathetically, feeling sorry for my friend. He was quite possibly one of the nicest people I knew, but he had zero luck with meeting someone who wasn’t an asshole. The sad thing was, I was sure idiots looked him up and down and had certain ideas and expectations of the handsome hunk of a man who was currently grimacing.

“Honestly, you don’t want to know the ins and outs. But when he suggested there was no way a guy like me didn’t don a gimp mask and give it hard, I knew it was time to leave.”

“Shit,” I said, laughing. “Sorry, but seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.” He snorted. “But I’m so tired of the club scene.”

I threw him a sad face. “I know you are, and I’m so sorry it sucks so hard for you.”

“I’ve actually decided to start looking for a new job.”

“Oh, wow. I actually think that’s a great idea.”

He bobbed his head. “I’m looking out of this city, but honestly, I have no idea where. I just want something less manic. I need a change.”

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